Karen Millen and Shoe Zone feature among the list of around 180
employers named and shamed by the department for Business, Energy and
Industrial Strategy (BEIS) for underpaying more than 9,000 minimum wage
workers by 1.1 million pounds (1.5 million dollars). Along with recovering
backpay for 9,200 workers, the government also fined the employers a total
of 1.3 million pounds (1.8 million dollars) in penalties for breaking
national minimum wage laws.

Commenting on the move, Business Minister Andrew Griffiths said in the
statement: There are no excuses for short-changing workers. This is an
absolute red line for this government and employers who cross it will get
caught - not only are they forced to pay back every penny but they are also
fined up to 200 percent of wages owed. Today’s naming round serves as a
sharp reminder to employers to get their house in order ahead of minimum
wage rate rises on 1 April.”

BEIS to launch campaign to create awareness

A media statement on the Gov.UK website states that the move comes ahead
of the next rate rise on April 1, 2018, when the National Living Wage will
go up from 7.50 pounds (10.36 dollars) to 7.83 pounds (10.82 dollars) per
hour. Apprentices under the age of 19 and those in the first year of their
apprenticeship will benefit from a 5.7 percent rise.

Later this month, BEIS will also launch a campaign to raise awareness of
the new rates and encourage workers to speak to their employer if they
think they are being underpaid.

“As the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates rise on
April 1, it is vital that workers understand their rights, and employers
their obligations. The Low Pay Commission is pleased to see the government
maintaining the momentum of its minimum wage enforcement. The recent
announcement that all workers will have a right to payslips stating the
hours they have worked – an idea originally proposed by the LPC – is a
positive step.”

This 14th naming round comes after the government published its Good
Work plan last month, which announced the right to a payslip for all
workers. The new law is likely to benefit around 300,000 UK workers who do
not currently get a payslip. For those paid by the hour, payslips will also
have to include how many hours the worker is paid for, making pay easier to
understand and challenge if it is wrong.

Since 2013, the scheme has identified more than 9 million pounds (12.4
million pounds) in back pay for around 67,000 workers, with more than 1,700
employers fined a total of 6.3 million pounds (8.7 million dollars). The
government has also committed 25.3 million pounds (34.9 million dollars)
for minimum wage enforcement in 2017 to 2018.